“Flavors of Entanglement” is a beautiful piece of music. As evidenced by her first single, “Underneath,” Alanis Morissette is as cagey as ever while opening her world through her rich and expressive vocal power.
Delicious ‘Flavors’
Alanis Morissette’s latest CD is equally melodic as it is uplifting. Considering the last rough break-up she endured resulted in four Grammys and the unstoppable “Jagged Little Pill,” the fact that Ryan Reynolds has moved on with Scarlett Johansson is nowhere on this record — and yet everywhere.
There is no question that Morissette has never been so on top of her musical game.
Then again, relationships have the habit of defining who we are, but thank goodness, not what we do. By beginning with album with its lead track, “Citizen of the Planet,” Morissette has set the tone for “Flavors of Entanglement.”
Incorporating Indian and western electronic bass rifts, “Citizen,” is pure power. On Alanis Morissette’s latest CD, the singer songwriter is equal parts introspective and existential.
As “Jagged Little Pill” incorporated a guitar-driven guitar and keyboard crossroads that created audio audacity never heard before, so does “Flavors of Entanglement.”
Entangled in ecstasy
SheKnows adored the album as soon as it landed in our hot little hands. It arrives in stories today, June 10, and whether Alanis fan or not, this is a musician’s record. “Flavors of Entanglement” paint a picture that is fluorescent at the same time haunting. Morissette has grown as a songwriter and as a singer and both realms show astonishing depth of experience in all 11 tracks.
It has been 12 years since the world heard “You Outta Know” and its album, “Jagged Little Pill,” set records that are to this day standing.
By the second track of “Flavors,” and first single, “Underneath,” Alanis proves why she is still one of the most relevant artists creating musical magic today. Beginning with an acoustic introduction that is typically Morissette, “Underneath” elicits a timely relevance that proves that the songwriter’s wit and pointed observations are as sharp as ever.
A touch of Brit
Selecting British electronic producer Guy Sigsworth, who has worked with Bjork, Morissette has added another Svengali of the audios boards that has created sonic succulence on each track that began with Glen Ballard on her debut album.
One of the most carefree joys of the entire album is the song, “Giggling again for no Reason.” The track captures the effortless nature of an out of control laugh and the freedom it represents. Contrast it with a world without laughter and you have a “Jagged Little Pill.” With humor, insight and cleverness, Morissette has moved beyond what we “Outta Know” into what we have always known. She is a talent beyond compare.
And by completing her latest set of musical menagerie, Morissette closes with “Incomplete” which lets her audience know there is more where these 11 tracks came from, which is a very good thing.
Morissette’s melodic muscle
Bare-knuckled raw passion is nothing new to Morissette on record, with “”Straitjacket,” audiences have never seen Alanis’ aura so undone. That too, is a good thing.
One wonders about her unraveled engagement to actor Ryan Reynolds hearing certain tracks, but “Flavors of Entanglement” stands on its own as a nod to post ’90s Nine Inch Nails more than a tribute to Alanis hits of the past. She has never been so effervescent.
“Versions of Violence” enters with a beat worthy of its title. I am so proud of Morissette for expanding her musical horizons, although that should hardly be a surprise from the artist who traveled to India to clear herself of the chains of a “jagged Little Pill” to create that album’s follow up and aptly titled, “Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie.”
After listening to “Flavors of Entanglement,” each of those 16 million who made “Jagged Little Pill” a part of their lives would be greatly benefited by the journey captured in over a decade by a singer that reflects the growth each of us mirror in our own lives.
Be sure to keep visiting SheKnows for our sit down chat with the Canadian singer who is set to conquer the world, once again.
Alanis Morissette discography:
“Flavors of Entanglement,” 2008
“The Collection,” 2005
“Jagged Little Pill Acoustic,” 2005
“So-Called Chaos,” 2004
“Feast On Scraps,” 2002
“Under Rug Swept,” 2002
“A Tribute to Alanis Morissette,” 2001
“MTV Unplugged,” 1999
“Dogma soundtrack,” 1999
“Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie,” 1998
“Jagged Little Pill,” 1995
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